Davis Love and everyone else craving to see Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods go
head-to-head will not have to wait until next month’s Ryder Cup. The pair
will face off next week at Bethpage.

McIlroy’s record-breaking win at the US PGA Championship on Sunday took him to second in the FedEx Cup standings and ensured a date with points leader Woods in the first two rounds of the Barclays Championship.

The matchup is sure to create a stir on Long Island with Love, himself, an intrigued viewer.

The US Ryder Cup captain said he would love “to rig” the singles draw at the biennial dust-up in Chicago next month to pitch Woods against McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman’s startling victory at Kiawah Island gave the 23 year-old his second major four months earlier than Woods had managed and the feat has led to inevitable comparisons.

“I’d want to go watch that one,” said Love, when asked about the chances of Woods v McIlroy on the Sunday at Medinah.

“It would be nice to be able to rig it – Tiger would probably like that. It would be a great match. We have some guys on our team who would love to take him on, because you want to play the best. You want to play a guy that’s hot, and I know Tiger or Phil [Mickelson] or any of those guys would love to try it.”

There will be decidedly more to play for than personal or national pride for Woods and McIlroy. There is the little matter of a $10 million (£6.4 million) bonus on offer at the end of the four-event FedEx Cup series and the pair are overwhelming favourites to contest the prize.

McIlroy is currently with his tennis-playing girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, who is playing a US Open warm-up in Cincinnati. He is wisely taking it easy before the FedEx Cup with the Ryder Cup following immediately.

As if to prove how seriously he is taking the Medinah match, Woods is set to return to the Chicago layout this week for a practice round.

This will be the first time Woods has conducted a reconnaissance mission at a Ryder Cup venue and answers all those who question his commitment to the team event.

It is a busy week at Medinah as the Europe captain, José María Olazábal, and Luke Donald played there on Monday, while Jeff Sluman, Love’s assistant captain, will also be there on a fact-finding trip. The countdown has already begun.